The Runaway Dosa

by Suma Subramaniam, Parvati Pillai (Illustrator)

Overview

"The more you eat, the more you crave! You can't catch me, no matter how brave!"

With the help of some magical, mythological Indian creatures, chase the Runaway Dosa before it gets away!

It's time for breakfast, and Akka is hungry! When she reaches for another dosa before the rest of the family has been served, she triggers a magical spell that brings the dosa to life, and it sprints out the door. Akka will need the help of some powerful, mythological creatures to get her breakfast back!

Inspired by Dosai! Amma, Dosai, a beloved Tamil rhyme, and a fantastical reimagination of the familiar Gingerbread Man story, this book offers a delicious Indian twist that will have any child asking for more!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781499814279
Publisher:	little bee books
Publication date:	09/05/2023
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	850,540
File size:	8 MB
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Suma Subramaniam is a recruiter by day and a children's book author by night. She is the author of Namaste is a Greeting, She Sang for India, and other books for children. She has an MFA in writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts and lives in Seattle, Washington, with her family and a talkative puppy. sumasubramaniam.com

Parvati Pillai is a visual and creative designer who is passionate about illustration, storytelling, and brand building. Her books include The Pig with the Runaway Tail, Mira, Royal Detective, and Bindu's Bindis. Parvati lives in Finland and loves storytelling, traveling, gardening, and food. When she is not exploring the beautiful outdoors, she enjoys experimenting with new illustration styles. Follow Parvati on Instagram @parvatipillai

Editorial Reviews

This Tamil-nursery-rhyme-inspired rendition of the Gingerbread Man tale (Run, run as fast as you can!) features a plucky dosa who escapes from the breakfast table and leads two children through a magical forest. If you're familiar with the mythology, the book is a fun way to see the king of the vultures, multiheaded elephant, and other fantastical creatures reimagined to fit the story. But even if you're not, the lush illustrations of our round, mischievous dosa friend frolicking through a verdant jungle and catchy rhyme-The more you eat, the more you crave / You can't catch me, no matter how brave!-make this a silly read for all ages.

Bon Appétit

2023-06-08
Two siblings’ attempt to catch their escapee breakfast leads to a magical journey.

As a hungry little girl reaches for the last dosa, a thin rice and lentil crepe, it suddenly transforms into a cheeky runaway trying to escape its fate. As she and her brother follow the dosa, they find themselves transported to an enchanted wonderland full of magical creatures from Hindu mythology. The vulture Jatayu, colorful lizard Nrga, and monkey Riksha, among others, call out to the children and help them in their search. However, the siblings are unable to catch the tricky dosa, which then meets its inevitable end. When the children return home hungry, their mother reassures them that more dosas are on the way. Inspired by “The Gingerbread Man” and the popular Tamil rhyme “Dosai! Amma, Dosai,” the story is a whimsical magical trip. The illustrations rely on intricate patterns with traditional Indian touches in the clothing, utensils, and family’s warm shades of brown. However, the transition as the children enter the magical world feels abrupt, and the rhymes sound clunky. Though this story lacks the repetition and momentum of “The Gingerbread Man,” for many readers, it will open the door to a world of fantastical beasts. The book includes the original rhyme in Tamil and English as well as a Tamil glossary. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An unconventional twist on a well-known tale. (author’s note, origin stories of the creatures mentioned, a note about dosas, dosa recipe) (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews